24 April 2012 (Brussels, Bonn Washington D.C., Seattle) - Incofin Investment Management, Fairtrade International and Grameen Foundation announced they are establishing the first fund to focus on the unmet demand of smallholder farmers for longterm loans. Starbucks Coffee Company (NASDAQ:SBUX) joins as the Fund's first anchor private investor with a $1.3m (€1m) commitment. The Fund will offer investors both financial and demonstrable social results.

27 January 2012 (Brussels) – Today the European Commission (EC) published its new EU trade and development plan. While welcoming the commitments to support small producers and fair, organic and ethical trade initiatives, the Fair Trade movement regrets the lack of commitment to mainstream Fair Trade principles across EU policies.

The Communication on “Trade, Growth and Development” aims to “modernise” the existing EU trade and development policy, dating back from 2002. However, the resulting policy is a continuation of the “business as usual” trade policy, sugarcoated with development aid to help to “swallow the pill” of the EU trade liberalisation agenda.

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